Senate Rejects Sanders' Bid to Block $8.8 Billion Arms Sale to Israel

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected two resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders aimed at blocking $8.8 billion in weapons sales to Israel, with only 15 senators voting in favor, a decrease from 19 in similar votes last year. The resolutions included blocking the sale of 35,000 2,000-pound bombs and additional munitions, amidst ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Several Democrats, including Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, flipped their votes from previous support, reflecting a shifting stance within the party. Freshman Senator Andy Kim was the only new Democrat to support the resolutions, citing concerns over civilian casualties from the proposed weapons. The votes signal the continued bipartisan support for military aid to Israel, despite pressures from progressive factions within the Democratic Party. The rejection of the resolutions underscores the challenges faced by those advocating for a more critical approach to U.S. arms sales in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.